Prototypes as Divergent and Convergent Tools in Conceptual Design

Why It Matters

Understanding these distinct functions allows design teams to strategically employ prototyping to either expand the design space or refine solutions, leading to more efficient and effective conceptualization.

Key Finding

Beyond typical functions, prototypes actively guide designers through either exploring many possibilities or narrowing down choices.

Key Findings

• Prototypes fulfill commonly described roles such as learning, integration, communication, and demonstration.
• Prototypes can be classified by their function in divergent (exploration) or convergent (decision-making) design activities.

Research Evidence

Aim: To investigate the roles prototypes fulfill in the early stages of the engineering design process and how designers interact with physical prototyping materials.

Method: Mixed-methods research, combining case studies and protocol studies.

Procedure: A case study examined prototype roles in two industrial settings, while a protocol study observed individual designers interacting with physical media during conceptual design tasks.

Context: Engineering design, conceptual design, industrial settings.

Design Principle

Employ prototyping as a dynamic tool, shifting between divergent exploration and convergent refinement to navigate the design process effectively.

How to Apply

When starting a new design project, consider whether your initial prototyping efforts should focus on generating many ideas (divergent) or testing and refining a few promising concepts (convergent).

Limitations

The research is an initial attempt to explore the prototyping process and may not cover all possible prototype roles or contexts.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: Prototypes aren't just for showing off ideas; they help you explore lots of options or help you pick the best one.

Why This Matters: Understanding how prototypes help explore or decide helps you use them better in your own design projects to get better results.

Critical Thinking: How might the perceived 'risk' of using a prototype early in the design process influence whether a designer opts for a divergent or convergent approach?

IA-Ready Paragraph: In this design project, prototypes were utilized not only for their traditional roles in learning and communication but also as distinct tools for divergent and convergent thinking. Early-stage prototypes facilitated broad exploration of the design space, generating multiple concepts, while later prototypes were employed to systematically evaluate and refine specific design choices, thereby guiding the convergent phase of development.

Project Tips

• When documenting your prototyping, consider if each prototype was used to explore new ideas or to make a decision.
• Reflect on how your choice of prototyping method influenced whether you explored broadly or narrowed down your options.

How to Use in IA

• Discuss how your prototypes served either a divergent or convergent function in your design process.
• Analyze how your prototyping activities influenced your decision-making or idea generation.

Examiner Tips

• Assess whether the student clearly distinguishes between prototypes used for exploration versus those used for decision-making.
• Look for evidence of strategic prototyping choices linked to project goals.

Independent Variable: Type of prototyping activity (divergent vs. convergent).

Dependent Variable: Effectiveness of the conceptual design process (e.g., number of ideas generated, quality of decisions made).

Controlled Variables: Designer's experience level, complexity of the design task, available materials.

Strengths

• Investigates the under-researched 'process' of prototyping, not just the prototypes themselves.
• Combines multiple research methods for a richer understanding.

Critical Questions

• To what extent does the designer's prior knowledge influence whether they use a prototype divergently or convergently?
• How can digital prototyping tools be categorized in terms of divergent and convergent roles?

Extended Essay Application

• Investigate the divergent and convergent roles of digital prototyping tools (e.g., CAD software, simulation tools) in a specific design field.
• Explore how different team structures or collaboration methods impact the use of prototypes for divergent versus convergent thinking.

Source

Investigation of Prototype Roles in Conceptual Design using Case Study and Protocol Study Methods · TigerPrints (Clemson University) · 2012